Not only does this infographic, originally posted by the great dailyinfographic.com blog, sheds light on a centuries long rivalry between to major countries, it also shows a great way to compare two different like objects, or in this case cities (don’t tell them I said they are alike though). The rivalry, property disputes, and wars have gone back and forth since the beginning of each country. Political peace between the two nations has only occurred during the last century, the extent of much of our memories. But as this infographic points out, politics is the extent of this peace.

Food is a great topic of debate between the two nations. Citizens of each country is say that the other doesn’t know how to cook. This is a matter of palette. In addition, each have monuments, cathedrals, and beautiful buildings around every turn, both classic and modern. And a variety of entertainment in each city.

But what this infographic also does is show a great way to compare two like objects, or places. When each a topic between each is compared, an example is given. The size of the cities is spacially compared, the monuments and skylines are compares, and the variety of restaurants and the price of a meal is compared. But the important thing is that these are compared side by side, with the Eiffel tower right beside the London Eye.

When creating such an infographic, make sure the reader does not have to search for a comparison, but can see the two side by side.

This is a rather morbid, but important infographic for two reasons. One, it is important to realize the birth and death rates around the world. What causes an increased birth or death rate in one part of the country? How does our country compare? Why is our country different from another area? Secondly, it is a great way to show data across the world. I was studying an atlas on the wall in my GRE class, and was amazed by how small the US is. Living in the US, it is even easier to think we have a major impact on the rest of the world, and thus are larger than life. However, we are still just a land mass, and not the largest by far. But this method also shows how little or how large our impact is compared to the rest of the world.

Most people have an idea of what the world looks like in their heads, even if they don’t know where each country is, they know which areas are suffering and which areas are comparatively doing well. They can look at a map and point to Africa or Asia and say that much of this area is very poor, and point to North America or Western Europe and say much of this area is comparatively wealthy. However, what is the impact of this wealth, or lack there of? One can assume it is positive, but not always. I wonder what a similar infographic would look like that shows pollution, or obesity. Would we then fare so well?

Challenge your students to create an infographic about what interests them in this way. How many clothes come out of each country? How many cars are owned per capita in each country? This will really show how well each country lives or how poorly each country lives.

When your students are deciding what language to specialize in, this infographic may come in handy, and may hold some surprises. This infographic shows the ten most spoken languages in the world, and where they are spoken. However, students shouldn’t just factor in the most spoken language all over the world when they choose a language, they should also factor in where they will be speaking the language? Will it just be here in the US, or are they going to travel. And don’t forget to remind them, they can always learn a new language as their dreams change.

First of all, it was interesting to discover that English is not the most spoken language. It is easy to assume that every educated person in the world has learned English, but English fell to number three, after Chinese and Spanish. With the Chinese increasing in their power across the world, this would be a good language to learn if your students plan to go into international business, if they were willing to put in a great amount of effort. Also with so many Spanish immigrants coming into the United States, this would be a great language if your students planned to work with the general public.

It is also interesting to speak with students from other countries and find out what languages they learn. I visited a peer in Germany when I was in high school, and was amazed to find out that these students were learning their third, and even fourth language, when I hadn’t even mastered a second. Challenge your students to become bilingual, to be esteemed by their peers in their future endeavors, and if they plan to travel, to be a more acceptable tourist.

While you may not be introducing Stephen King into your classroom, this is a great example of how to create a flow chart while reading books by the same author, or by similar authors. It is important to make connections as you read in order to help you remember and comprehend what is read, and this is a great way to promote this in the classroom.

Create a bulletin board or a wall just for this, and use yarn to make various connections. Introduce some fiction with connections, such as Shakespeare’s plays or the Harry Potter series. Have different students read each play or book, and then report on it to the class. As classmates read the different books, have them discuss the connections that are made, and show them on the board. This may even encourage your students to read the rest of the literature in their spare time.

You can make connections based on characters (for instance, I am currently actively reading Jane Austen, and certain characters are present in many of her novels), based on locations, or based on events that occurred or themes. Try to create a bio about the author, or write a story that the author may have written based on what is known about him or her.

Littering is a big problem in our country. A single cup may not make a difference, but if everyone threw away a single cup, it would add up very quickly. At the same time, seeing someone recycle may make someone else recycle. So you recycling your one can make make someone else do the same.
We are overflowing our cities, states, countries, and planet with trash that could easily be recycled, or reused. Neighborhoods are having to be built beside landfills because there is not enough space for people and trash. It is just as easy to recycle as it is to throw things away. Keep a recycling bin outside of your back door, or in the same place as your trash can. Usually recycled materials can be taken to the same places as trash. Many landfill have a place to add recycling, and for those who live in cities and get your trash picked up, recycling can also be picked up. In addition to this, recycling bins are often beside trash bins in public places. So there really is no reason for you to not recycle. Check out these statistics, and contact your local recycling center for statistics on your areas trash problem.
Blog: http://visual.ly/eye-opening-statistics-littering

Today’s infographic is interactive. It allows you to view various sessions of the Senate and view who voted the same during that session.

It is very interesting to see what Dem and Rep are connected, and which vote independent of their party. For instance, during the current session, Senator Susan Collins voted with two Democrats and four Republicans 75% of the time. It is important to know how your representatives vote, and this is a great tool to see who votes without influence.

Challenge your students to come up with reasons why Senators may be influenced to vote a certain way. Maybe the promise of a vote on another bill, or because there is something deeper inside the bill than is evident. Also, research a few bills and try to figure out why certain Senators voted a certain way, and others voted the other way.

In America, especially, ice cream is very important. We eat it just as it is, we add toppings, we add it to pies and birthday cakes, we even have socials just to celebrate ice cream. And all around the world different countries put a different price on this beloved dessert.

Take a look at this infographic and see who puts the highest price on ice cream, and who the lowest. Compare it to other favorite commodities of Americans and your students. Try to find information on the prices of milk, skateboards, and other items. See how different countries compare, and what would be the best country to live in based on price. But don’t forget to factor in the income of the residents of these countries!

This is a great infographic for those who are just entering the workplace, and for those who are feeling stressed in school. Stress can have a very negative affect on students and employees, as the infographic shows, it can take a toll on productivity and safety.

Go over this infographic with your students, and help them destress in order to be more productive. Brainstorm with them on ways to destress and encourage them to come to you for assistance.

In a world of entrepreneurs and bloggers, travel writing may be something for your students to think about as a future career. First of all, stress to your students the importance of being able to write maturely. While abbreviations are ok between friends, in order to gain respect anywhere, one must learn proper spelling and grammar. Aside from that, an urge to learn about cultures other than your own and an ability to adapt, because they don’t serve Kraft Mac and Cheese in India.

This infographic, produced by HotelClub, goes on to show what blogging platforms, social media sites, and other technology, such as phones and cameras, are most common among travel writers. It can be an expensive, and lonely, occupation, so one must also have money saved up, the proper equipment, and an ability to make friends anywhere.

Take your students on a trip to another country, via the internet. Have them research a part of the country, as though they are staying there, creating a budget and a plan. Have them write about their trip to a foreign country, and even try to connect with another group of students, or someone who lives over there to be fully immersed in the culture. Also, if food allergies are not a problem, have students bring in food and then present where they went to the class.